U.S. military refueling Saudi planes for Yemen airstrikes

Cars line up amid fuel shortages in Sanaa, Yemen, on April 8, 2015. A state-run broadcaster in Iran is reporting that the Islamic republic has sent a navy destroyer and another vessel to waters near Yemen amid a Saudi-led airstrike campaign.(Photo: Hani Mohammed, AP)

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has begun air-refueling operations for the Saudi-led coalition conducting airstrikes in Yemen, the Pentagon said Wednesday, signaling a deepening of American support for the Arab air campaign.

The Pentagon also said the United States would expedite delivery of ammunition to the Saudis and other members of the coalition who are bombing targets in Yemen. The expedited ammunition has not been delivered yet but will include bombs and guidance systems.

The increased U.S. assistance comes as the Houthi rebels continued their advance on Yemen's southern port city of Aden, where remnants of the government are taking a stand.

The Saudis said their air campaign has been successful despite the pressure Houthis are placing on the city.

The U.S. Air Force began refueling aircraft on Tuesday, linking up with F-16s from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi F-15s. The planes are refueled outside Yemeni airspace, said Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman.

The Pentagon said last week that it had authorized the refueling operations but had not conducted any missions. The Pentagon plans on having tanker sorties available every day for the Saudis and their partner nations in the air campaign.

The refueling operations would allow aircraft to fly longer combat missions over Yemen, allowing more time to react to changes on the ground and to acquire targets.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are equipped with modern U.S. aircraft and have improved their training in the past decade.

The Saudis and their allies are attempting to weaken the Iranian-supported Houthi rebels, who have seized the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and driven President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi from power, in the hope that the Houthis will be compelled to negotiate, the Saudi government has said.

The Saudis and other Sunni Arab countries view the Houthi offensive as part of Iran's aggressive push to gain influence in the region.

Iran dispatched a destroyer to waters near Yemen on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press, quoting Iran's English-language state broadcaster Press TV.